There are quite a few topics on this forum about specific pen-and-paper roleplaying games, but I didn't find one that straight out asked people what they are playing. Now, this is a travesty I cannot abide! I think we owe it to ourselves and others to declare loud and clear what we're playing and why! I'm currently running a campaign using the Dungeon World rules (http://book.dwgazetteer.com/). It started off as a one-off improvisational high fantasy adventure at the university gaming night, but then took on a life of its own and has become an epic campaign in which the characters' decisions shape the futures of nations. It all started with a mental image of a lovely Alpine meadow grown over the dead of an epic battle who, when the sun sets and the mist rises, stir once again to finish what they've started. That, and my insistence that there is no such thing as a "minor magic item" - magic is too dangerous to dabble with for the sake of a trinket, so better think big! I'm lucky to have a player who's started a spin-off campaign in a different corner of the same setting. The setting grows in breadth and depth and I get to try on a player's hat (invaluable in a system as asymmetrical as Dungeon World)! I'm also running a few other campaigns (space opera using the Cortex system; a cloak & dagger and a blood & guts campaign of Warhammer Fantasy Roleplay 2e; occult mysteries in a modern setting using heavily streamlined Cyberpunk 2020 rules; an AD&D 2e game featuring an invasion of giants and other nasties), but these are on hiatus due to one of the players being abroad for the spring and some pesky scheduling conflicts. I also run the occasional streamlined Cyberpunk 2020 game on a one-off basis. I love the grim absurdity of cyberpunk settings too much to ever really let go of the genre! I'm also part of a GM-less relationship-focused game using Shock: Social Science Fiction conflict resolution mechanics. So far we've explored cyberpunk, high fantasy (loosely based on Artesia), and steampunk settings as backdrops for our romantic polyhedrons (romantic triangles are just too simple for our tastes), and we usually end up having epic storylines running in the background. Shock is essentially a world-building story game, and we use that to supply our characters with a setting while we concentrate on the emotional drama. This is by far the game I have the most emotional involvement in, and not only because it lets me harness my perverted imagination productively. In addition to the aforementioned Dungeon World spin-off, I also play in a D&D 3.x campaign that has been running for at least ten years. We play divine avatars who have lost their memories and most of their powers along with them. The gaming group has been together since we started playing AD&D 2e and Runequest as kids, and the campaign retains that hilarious old school lethality we're used to from each other; in other words, despite our characters' heightened power level, it is high-octane survival horror as we crawl guts hanging out from frying pan to fire. This game certainly keeps my tactical sense from getting dull! I'm also in a Legend of the Five Rings game and a Pathfinder campaign that's been ongoing since the alpha playtest, but unfortunately those are too intermittent to really count (the former is in scheduling limbo, while the GM of the latter has moved to the other side of the country). So, what about you? What pen-and-paper RPGs are you playing? Are you between games? What would you want to play if you had the chance?

GMing D&D 3ed Able to GM Star Wars d20 In Nomine Steve Jackson Games Gurps AD&D Robotech Shadowrun Vampire Dark Age In the bottom of my memory almost lost LOTR (Decipher) Battletech (FASA) Star Wars d6 Vampire The Masquerade Want to play Mage: The Ascension Unknown Armies

Updated 7 April 2013 (23:06)

I 'm very much into RP but I've only played D&D 3.5... I have done the reading for D&D 3.75 and for Vampire the Masquerade but I've never played..... Why oh why?????? (being the drama qeen here.. ) Oh and the Legend of Five rings has caught my attention too! I have also taken a test that shows in which clan you are most likely to fit... or something like that... Please don't tell me it's good cause I ll end up doing the reading and I will be unable to find anyone to play with. I tell you I'm doomed...

Updated 8 April 2013 (08:49)

Posted by IoannaI 'm very much into RP but I've only played D&D 3.5...

A fairly common state of affairs, I'm afraid. D&D is often the only game in town, so to speak, even though its scope as a roleplaying game is rather limited - the rules are very combat-oriented after all. That, of course, may be the appeal: people know what they're going to get out of the game. Still, broadening one's horizons is never a bad thing.

I have done the reading for D&D 3.75 and for Vampire the Masquerade but I've never played..... Why oh why??????

I think Pathfinder/D&D 3.75 is about as good as 3rd Edition is going to get. Fortunately, switching from 3.5 to 3.75 is easy and painless, especially wit the complete rules available online.

I've played Vampire and other Storyteller system games only a little, but they seemed to work quite nicely. Their greater emphasis on social interaction would certainly be a change after D&D 3.5! I hope you get to try it out!

Oh and the Legend of Five rings has caught my attention too! I have also taken a test that shows in which clan you are most likely to fit... or something like that... Please don't tell me it's good cause I ll end up doing the reading and I will be unable to find anyone to play with. I tell you I'm doomed...

Fortunately for you I can't tell you how good it is. We've only had a few sporadic sessions, so all I know about it is that the core system is sound. It's not my favourite campaign, but that's probably because I'm not that into derivatives of feudal Japan as settings; they're neat, sure, but don't grab me by the gonads like Arthurian or Tolkienesque fantasy.

What's the gaming society scene in your part of the world? They always seem to have some of the more adventurous sort among their number, always eager to take in new players and try out new games.

That's quite a list, Ardac!

Posted by ArdacGMingD&D 3ed

I'm curious to know, why D&D 3e?

Gurps

Gurps has definitely got the best sourcebooks in the business! I've used the system for only a couple of session, but there has never been a campaign that I didn't utilize my burgeoning Gurps shelf. The core rules encourage going into exhaustive detail a bit too much for me to gamemaster, but they set an excellent point of reference for using the supplements.

Mage: The Ascension

In our old group we once had the beginnings of an Ars Magica campaign, but we never got around to playing it (the GM moved out of town, I think), and since then I've had an itch to play a campaign centered around magic. I can see how Storyteller could serve well in such a game. Hopefully we both get to try out Mage someday!

AD&D 1 and 2 (currently) D&D 3 (currently) and 4, and playtesting 5 (currently) Shadowrun Star Wars Saga Edition Exalted Yes, I've got 3 current campaigns running. Two I'm DMing (AD&D2 and D&D5) and one run by another DM.

Updated 8 April 2013 (14:20)

Posted by KitharisAD&D 1 and 2 (currently)

Neat! Are you using one of the legion of official settings or a homebrew? And have you tried out any of the Old School Renaissance games, like Lamentations of the Flame Princess?

D&D 3 (currently) and 4, and playtesting 5 (currently)

How do 3e and 4e compare in practice? I've played only a short introductory adventure with 4e, not enough to say much more than that it flowed nicely. And how's D&D Next coming along? My only contact with it so far has been a podcast of the guys from Penny Arcade trying out an early version last year, but I found myself intrigued; it seemed more flexible and a lot less maths-intensive than the two previous incarnations.

Star Wars Saga Edition

Have you tried out the new SW game from Fantasy Flight? I took part in a one-shot a while back, and I liked the dice mechanics (a refined version of those in Warhammer FRP 3e).

Yes, I've got 3 current campaigns running. Two I'm DMing (AD&D2 and D&D5) and one run by another DM.

I take it this means you're playing three different editions of D&D at the same time? Obviously you've managed to avoid - or at least recover from - the worst brunt of the Edition Wars!

Posted by MuadMouseNeat! Are you using one of the legion of official settings or a homebrew? And have you tried out any of the Old School Renaissance games, like Lamentations of the Flame Princess?

DM1 runs Greyhawk. DM2 (me) runs Forgotten Realms. DM3 runs his own world. We trade off every so often. We haven't tried anything except what I listed, but DM3's world is set in an approx. 1650 Europe-ish world (late Renaissance/early Baroque), so he's worked out rules for muskets, flintlocks, and wheellocks.

How do 3e and 4e compare in practice? I've played only a short introductory adventure with 4e, not enough to say much more than that it flowed nicely. And how's D&D Next coming along? My only contact with it so far has been a podcast of the guys from Penny Arcade trying out an early version last year, but I found myself intrigued; it seemed more flexible and a lot less maths-intensive than the two previous incarnations.

3e and 4e are very different games, but both based on the d20 mechanic. 4e was much simpler, but felt like a boardgame version of a computer game. 3e felt like it was an RPG that really should have been a computer game. (NWN did a great translation of 3e to the computer, and I still play that.)

5e is making good progress. It has some of the "feel" of 2e, which we like, and uses the d20 mechanic that makes the "high rolls are always good" a much more intuitive thing to work with. My way of internalising the rules is to make a custom Excel character sheet so I know exactly what every class, race, feat, skill, and item does. We're really looking forward to the final product.

Have you tried out the new SW game from Fantasy Flight? I took part in a one-shot a while back, and I liked the dice mechanics (a refined version of those in Warhammer FRP 3e).

No, we played SWSE because it was a combination of Star Wars and D&D. We're pretty set in our ways in terms of system -- we'll stick with Wizards for the foreseeable future.

I take it this means you're playing three different editions of D&D at the same time? Obviously you've managed to avoid - or at least recover from - the worst brunt of the Edition Wars!

Yep. Friday nights are the 2e campaign (FR), 5e is one Saturday a month, and 3e is one Saturday a month -- but with a catch: it's in Colorado and I'm in Texas, so I can only join them when I visit. I'm sort of like the recurring Guest Star in a TV show.

I never saw the point of Edition Wars. If you (generic "you" throughout, here -- not meaning you specifically ) don't like something, don't play it. It's as simple as that. Wizards isn't going to come take away your books so you HAVE to play the current edition, and telling others what the problems you see in an edition isn't going to change their minds. Play what you want to play and we'll play what we want to play.

Updated 8 April 2013 (18:29)

Posted by MuadMouseThat's quite a list, Ardac!

Thx, i forgot StarCraft (Alternity)

I'm curious to know, why D&D 3e?

err 3.5... sorry

Gurps has definitely got the best sourcebooks in the business! I've used the system for only a couple of session, but there has never been a campaign that I didn't utilize my burgeoning Gurps shelf. The core rules encourage going into exhaustive detail a bit too much for me to gamemaster, but they set an excellent point of reference for using the supplements.

I use it only when I want to create a game too out of the ordinary

In our old group we once had the beginnings of an Ars Magica campaign, but we never got around to playing it (the GM moved out of town, I think), and since then I've had an itch to play a campaign centered around magic. I can see how Storyteller could serve well in such a game. Hopefully we both get to try out Mage someday!

Ars Magica! I also like to play it, although it never occurred to me an adventure on that system...

Posted by KitharisDM1 runs Greyhawk. DM2 (me) runs Forgotten Realms. DM3 runs his own world. We trade off every so often. We haven't tried anything except what I listed, but DM3's world is set in an approx. 1650 Europe-ish world (late Renaissance/early Baroque), so he's worked out rules for muskets, flintlocks, and wheellocks.

Ah, Greyhawk, my first love! In the heyday of AD&D 2e we had DMs running just about every official setting: I ran Greyhawk (well, prepped for more than ran, really), there were a couple of guys doing Forgotten Realms, we had some Ravenloft, Planescape and Karameikos. We had near-hits with Al-Qadim and Dragonlance (created characters we never played with). I think the only ones we missed entirely were Spelljammer and Birthright. The latter remains a source of regret - the idea of sacral kingship has always tickled my fancy. But, yeah, Greyhawk influenced me big time, and still forms the basis for much of my improvisational fantasy settings. I liked that it had much of the diversity of FR, but at a considerably lower magic-level. FR has also struck me a bit too detailed, thereby watering down the sense of wonder that's pretty much the point of fantasy RPG worlds. Admittedly my image of the Realms may well be negatively affected by the downright fanatic enthusiasm some of my friends have for the setting.

3e and 4e are very different games, but both based on the d20 mechanic. 4e was much simpler, but felt like a boardgame version of a computer game. 3e felt like it was an RPG that really should have been a computer game. (NWN did a great translation of 3e to the computer, and I still play that.)5e is making good progress. It has some of the "feel" of 2e, which we like, and uses the d20 mechanic that makes the "high rolls are always good" a much more intuitive thing to work with.

I hadn't thought of 3e that way, but now that you mention it, it makes perfect sense: it is structured a lot like a computer program! The rules are carefully worded and precise, its focus on a narrow band of activity, ie. combat... Damn! Although Neverwinter Nights is great, I actually prefer Temple of Elemental Evil - partly because i like to create a whole party instead of just one character (with rolled stats, thank you very much, not this point-buy nonsense ), partly because of its adherence to the ruleset, and quite a bit because of it being set in Greyhawk (I have the original adventure on my shelf).

It seems I'll have to give D&D 5e a whirl at some point. They're up against some serious competition nowadays, but sounds like they might be able to pull off creating an exceptional game. Not holding my breath, but there's hope!

My way of internalising the rules is to make a custom Excel character sheet so I know exactly what every class, race, feat, skill, and item does.

Yeah, I know what you mean. Character creation says a hell of a lot about a system.

No, we played SWSE because it was a combination of Star Wars and D&D. We're pretty set in our ways in terms of system -- we'll stick with Wizards for the foreseeable future.

I can't see myself doing that - I like the thrill of wandering out of my comfort zone too much. But hey, whatever floats your boat!

3e is one Saturday a month -- but with a catch: it's in Colorado and I'm in Texas, so I can only join them when I visit. I'm sort of like the recurring Guest Star in a TV show.

Have you tried participating via Skype or Google Hangout? I hear it works rather well.

I never saw the point of Edition Wars. If you (generic "you" throughout, here -- not meaning you specifically ) don't like something, don't play it. It's as simple as that. Wizards isn't going to come take away your books so you HAVE to play the current edition, and telling others what the problems you see in an edition isn't going to change their minds. Play what you want to play and we'll play what we want to play.

Yep, it's mostly just some people being essentially blinded by the shininess of a new toy, some deliberately closing their eyes, and the rest just wondering what's so cool about not seeing that it's worth shouting about.

Posted by Ardacerr 3.5... sorry

Actually, I was curious about what draws you to D&D 3.x in general. Why does it serve your purpose better than any number of the games on your list?

I use it only when I want to create a game too out of the ordinary

Oh, that it can most certainly do! I tried it out once with a spirit magic theme; I liked it, but my test subject thought the system was too heavy. Admittedly, I've since turned to Cortex as my go-to system for weird stuff, and I find it works even better. Of course it gives the game a more cinematic, TV series feel, whereas GURPS excels at realistic simulationism.

Ars Magica! I also like to play it, although it never occurred to me an adventure on that system...

Not a lot of Ars Magica around these days. And even the computer game Kickstarter fizzled!

Posted by MuadMouseI've played Vampire and other Storyteller system games only a little, but they seemed to work quite nicely. Their greater emphasis on social interaction would certainly be a change after D&D 3.5! I hope you get to try it out!

I just hope I find the chance...

Posted by MuadMouseFortunately for you I can't tell you how good it is. We've only had a few sporadic sessions, so all I know about it is that the core system is sound. It's not my favourite campaign, but that's probably because I'm not that into derivatives of feudal Japan as settings; they're neat, sure, but don't grab me by the gonads like Arthurian or Tolkienesque fantasy.

Oh thank goodness!! hahahhaaa No reading for me!! At leat for now...

Posted by MuadMouseWhat's the gaming society scene in your part of the world? They always seem to have some of the more adventurous sort among their number, always eager to take in new players and try out new games.

There aren't many RPers out there I guess. Plus me and my friends just scattered with our jobs and... lives ... that the few times we meet there is time only for a coffee or a beer. Alhought I can still see the sparkle... If I show up with a ready adventure I'm sure that they will all have dice with them.. But that means I need to DM, which I've never done in my life...

Posted by MuadMouseAh, Greyhawk, my first love! In the heyday of AD&D 2e we had DMs running just about every official setting: I ran Greyhawk (well, prepped for more than ran, really), there were a couple of guys doing Forgotten Realms, we had some Ravenloft, Planescape and Karameikos. We had near-hits with Al-Qadim and Dragonlance (created characters we never played with). I think the only ones we missed entirely were Spelljammer and Birthright. The latter remains a source of regret - the idea of sacral kingship has always tickled my fancy. But, yeah, Greyhawk influenced me big time, and still forms the basis for much of my improvisational fantasy settings. I liked that it had much of the diversity of FR, but at a considerably lower magic-level. FR has also struck me a bit too detailed, thereby watering down the sense of wonder that's pretty much the point of fantasy RPG worlds. Admittedly my image of the Realms may well be negatively affected by the downright fanatic enthusiasm some of my friends have for the setting.

I like FR for my campaign because I'm not all that creative -- I can add to something that exists very nicely but I can't start with a blank sheet of paper and make something worth playing. But I have no trouble in making it "our" FR. Some of the things the PCs have done have changed the world in subtle ways, and the campaign we're on now might have an even more profound effect.

I hadn't thought of 3e that way, but now that you mention it, it makes perfect sense: it is structured a lot like a computer program! The rules are carefully worded and precise, its focus on a narrow band of activity, ie. combat... Damn! Although Neverwinter Nights is great, I actually prefer Temple of Elemental Evil - partly because i like to create a whole party instead of just one character (with rolled stats, thank you very much, not this point-buy nonsense ), partly because of its adherence to the ruleset, and quite a bit because of it being set in Greyhawk (I have the original adventure on my shelf).

We prefer rolling stats, too, but I can see why many have gravitated to point-buy -- to keep all the PCs "balanced."

I play NWN on a persistent world. That way I can connect with a number of other players and have a great RP adventure.

It seems I'll have to give D&D 5e a whirl at some point. They're up against some serious competition nowadays, but sounds like they might be able to pull off creating an exceptional game. Not holding my breath, but there's hope!

There is, indeed. And the more people who are involved in the playtest, the more feedback Wizards will get, and when you participate, you'll have a likelier chance that the game will reflect your views.

Have you tried participating via Skype or Google Hangout? I hear it works rather well.

We've thought about it, but the game is usually run in a game store basement that doesn't have internet connectivity. And really -- why give up a good excuse to visit my friends in CO?

Posted by IoannaThere aren't many RPers out there I guess.

Have you tried gaming via, say, Google Hangout? It's worked wonders at least for some.

But that means I need to DM, which I've never done in my life...

All the more reason to go for it, then! Running a game can be an extremely rewarding experience, and if you start with friends you're guaranteed a supportive environment. I'm sure your group would greatly appreciate it!

Posted by KitharisSome of the things the PCs have done have changed the world in subtle ways, and the campaign we're on now might have an even more profound effect.

Having your character leave a lasting impression on the game world certainly is satisfying. I've been meaning to have consecutive campaigns in the same world, just so players can see their handiwork down the line. Makes for better immersion, certainly.

We prefer rolling stats, too, but I can see why many have gravitated to point-buy -- to keep all the PCs "balanced."

Balance in stats is overrated. As long as everyone's got playable stats, the balance will see to itself as they gain experience.

There is, indeed. And the more people who are involved in the playtest, the more feedback Wizards will get, and when you participate, you'll have a likelier chance that the game will reflect your views.

If only I had time in my gaming schedule for some playtesting...

And really -- why give up a good excuse to visit my friends in CO?

A fair point!

Posted by MuadMouseActually, I was curious about what draws you to D&D 3.x in general. Why does it serve your purpose better than any number of the games on your list?

basically it was because we needed 3ed DM's, when went on sale, 80% of the players who attended our RPG Tournaments asked want to play in a 3ed table ... so put the boots and go out and defend

Not a lot of Ars Magica around these days. And even the computer game Kickstarter fizzled!

Every time i try to think about a game on Ars Magica come to my mind Harry Potter, not that it is a bad thing, but not want to do a game of HP

Updated 9 April 2013 (20:20)

Posted by IoannaThere aren't many RPers out there I guess. Plus me and my friends just scattered with our jobs and... lives ... that the few times we meet there is time only for a coffee or a beer. Alhought I can still see the sparkle... If I show up with a ready adventure I'm sure that they will all have dice with them.. But that means I need to DM, which I've never done in my life...

you can practice in the forum

My gaming has been sporadic in the past year. We usually rotate referees, and our play style tends towards one-shots and episodes rather than extended, epic campaigns -- short stories instead of novels, so to speak. Maybe it's just because we're getting older; too many games, too little time... Last games I played: B/X D&D (1981 Moldvay/Cook box sets, my favorite edition of D&D), house-ruled WEG d6 Fantasy Last game I ran: Barbarians of Lemuria -- sword & sorcery RPG, houseruled for my homebrew gothic low-fantasy 17th century setting Planning/prepping/contemplating: The One Ring, Call of Cthulhu/Dicey Tales mashup

The RPG's I play? AD&D 1e. AD&D2e. BECMI D&D Pathfinder I playtested 5e.- no I don't continue to do so or like it. Our longest running games have always been AD&D. Been playing for 25 years this year and no signs of stopping. I never get tired of TSR D&D. Wotc- "Throwing fans away since 1999". Ya I'll pass. Happy gaming folks.

Oblivion!!!